The Bismarck City Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 10, will consider two consent-agenda items that would move the City/County Building remodel at 221 N. Fifth St. from early planning into full design, according to the commission's Nov. 10 agenda and meeting packet, where they are listed as items 2L3 and 2L4. The architect's contract puts the total project budget at $28M - $32M.
The first item is a $2,488,900.00 agreement with Endeavor North Design PLLC for Phase II, the design phase, of the remodel, according to the contract included in the packet. A memo from Public Works Services Director Steve Salwei says the commission approved a contract with the firm for preliminary design services at its Nov. 25, 2025, meeting, and that the project "has now advanced from the pre-design phase into Phase II."
The second item would award construction management at risk services to Northwest Contracting, Inc., according to a separate Salwei memo. Under that method, the construction manager joins during design to estimate costs, plan phasing and run public bidding for subcontractors, the city's request for proposals says. The memo says proposals were received Oct. 23, 2026, and a selection committee interviewed three firms. The packet does not list a dollar amount for that contract; the memo recommends approval to enter into an agreement with the company and, if the city cannot negotiate a contract, authorization to begin negotiations with the next highest-ranked firm. The request for proposals says construction services would be subject to a negotiated guaranteed maximum price and final commission authorization.
The work follows "Option D," which the commission previously approved, according to the packet. The city's request for proposals describes Option D as a comprehensive renovation plus a south addition with a new public entrance, lobby, civic plaza and accessible Commission Chamber. The Endeavor North contract says the project will "modernize City Hall, improve public access and security, address aging building systems," and includes a full roof replacement.
Construction would come in two phases, according to the contract. Phase 1 covers the new Commission Chamber addition, the first floor, the new public entrance, a stair and elevator tower, the civic plaza and exterior site work. Phase 2 covers the basement and the second through fourth floors.
For residents who visit city offices, the request for proposals says the City/County Building "is expected to remain operational during much of the work," and says careful planning will be essential to maintain public access and city services.
The contract lays out the schedule: design from October 2026 through October 2027, then bidding and a guaranteed maximum price that the request for proposals says would return to the commission in December 2027. Construction would begin in January 2028 for Phase 1 and January 2029 for Phase 2, with substantial completion in June 2029 and June 2030, according to the contract.
The contract sets an owner's budget of $26M - $28M for construction itself, and the request for proposals says total project cost "is proposed to not exceed $32 million." The memos do not say how the remodel will be paid for.
The commission meets at 5:15 p.m. in the Tom Baker Meeting Room of the City/County Building, according to the agenda. The agenda says the public comment period is restricted to items on the consent agenda, regular agenda or prior commission agenda, excluding public hearing items.
Sources: Bismarck City Commission agenda, Nov. 10, 2026; Bismarck City Commission meeting packet, Nov. 10, 2026 (Public Works Services memos, Endeavor North Design Phase II agreement and construction management at risk request for proposals).
